Hand-rake



(No Model.)

D'ORVILLE L. PINKHAM;

HAND RAKE. I N0..464,802H Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

Witweoaco r W6 Gtfozwm UNITED STATES PATENT Q FIGE.

DORVILLE LIBBEY PINKIIAM,

OF DOVER, NElV HAMPSHIRE.

HAND-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,802, dated December 8, 1891.

' Application filed October 9, 1890. Serial No. 367,557. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit knownthat LDORVILLELIBBEY PINK- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dover, in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Rakes and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hand-rakes, and more especially to that class in which the head and teeth are composed of metal and arelattached to a wooden handle, and which are used for the purpose of raking leaves, grasses, and other rubbish from lawns, gardens, &c.

The object of the invention is to produce v a rake of the character described provided with an arrangement which will automatically clean the rake-teeth and prevent their becoming clogged, whereby the rake may be used with greater ease and effect.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts of a rake, which will be hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved rake with the cleaner attached, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the cleaning apparatus detached from the rake.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the head of the rake, which is formed of metal and is provided with any suitable number of curved teeth a 0.. The head is attached to a handle B by means of a curved shank O,

and play up and down in close proximity to them.

D represents a thin steel spring, which furnishes themotive power for operating the part E, above referred to, and to which the spring is securely fastened at a point intermediate of its ends. The spring D extends upward from the head, passing between two of the teeth to apoint on the under side of the handle, where it is secured to a small wedgeshaped casting a, which is secured to the ferrule by means of a small rivet d, which rivet secures the rake-head and wedge to the handle, and also the spring to the wedge. The wedge c is furthersecured in place by means of small screws 6, which extend through the spring and wedge into the handle.

F represents'a rod which is firmly fastened to the part E at a point near each end. This rod passes through a groove in the casting a at the point 9, where there is a correspond ing groove f in the handle, and is held in position in the groove in such a manner as to admit of it being turned easily therein. The

ends of the rod F extend a short distance beyond the plate, where they are riveted, and are bent upwardly to form the small hooks or spring-arms h h.

The operation of the rake is as follows: The handle is grasped in the usual manner and the rake-head placed in advance of the objects on the ground which are intended to be gathered. By pressing down the handle of the rake with the hand nearest the head the teeth are forceddown through the cleaner D and as the hooks h h bear upon the ground the teeth of the rake enter the grass, roots, or ground far enough to gather the refuse matter and the rake is drawn forward. By raising the rake from the ground the spring E, working automatically, resumes at once a straight position and forces the cleaner down the teeth, cleaning them from the obstructions and preventing the rake from clogging. The teeth are made to enter, the ground or pass lightly over the surface by regulating the pressure of the handle.

The spring D is so adjusted that it cannot move the plate or band below the points of the teeth; but when a short distance from the points the spring is so bent that the band or cleaner is consequently raised.

By means of this improvement the raketeeth cannot clog, and its use is rendered pleasant and easy.

I am aware that prior to my invention rakes have been used having a loop encircling the teeth, the said loop being adapted to be forced V downward by the action of a suitable spring and to be lifted upward by pressure against the ground when the rake is in use, and I do not therefore claim such a construction; but

What I do claim is- The combination, with a rake-head having curved teeth, of a handle carrying the said rake, a wedge upon the end of the said handle, a metallic elongated loop surrounding the said curved teeth, a spring having its one end secured to the said wedge and its opposite end passing between two of the contigu ous teeth of the said rake and secured to the said loop, and a rod having its central portion passing through the said wedge and having each of its ends bent forward, secured to 

